Elastomerically covered bumper

ABSTRACT

Bumper structure having a top member welded to a bottom member with an outstanding flange for securing a resilient rubber facing strip which contacts the outer surfaces of the members. The top and bottom members are welded so that moisture which may bleed from the weld construction drains along the inner surface of the bottom member. The formation of rust streaks on the chrome outer finish is thereby minimized.

O United States Patent 1 1 3,574,406

[72] Inventor Henry W. Wessells, III [56] References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS [21] P 783,085 2,959,146 11/1960 Erkert 293/71x [221 PM 19682,990,802 7/1961 Ong 6:61. 293/71x [45] minted 1971 3,019,758 2/1962Erkert 114/219 [731 Ass'gnee The Budd CmPany 3 065 724 11/1962 Tritt114/88 Philadelphia, Pa.

Primary Examiner-Arthur L. La Point Assistant Examiner-Howard BeltranAtt0rneysThomas I. Davenport, Edward M. Farrell, Alfrod L. Trueax, Jr.and William R. Nolte [54] g fi gg f g COVERED BUMPER ABSTRACT: Bumperstructure having a top member welded rawmg to a bottom member with anoutstanding flange for securing a [52] US. Cl 293/71, resilient rubberfacing strip which contacts the outer surfaces 114/219, 293/98, 293/99of the members. The top and bottom members are welded so [51] lnt.Cl..B60r 19/08, that moisture which may bleed from the weld constructionB6lf 19/04, B63b 59/02 drains along the inner surface of the bottommember. The [50] Field of Search 1 14/88; formation of rust s reaks onhe chrome outer fini h is here y minimized.

PATENIED APR 1 31971 VENTOR. H ENRY W. WESSELLS m AGENT ELASTOMERICALLYCOVERED BUMPER This invention relates to bumpers for genei'al use in theautomotive field. It more particularly relates to bumpers formed of twoor more pieces which carry an elastomeric facing strip substantially.the full length of the bumper.

It has been proposed, heretofore, to attach by welding, clips of variouscross section to the outer surface of a bumper structure to retain arubber facing strip. The strip in such construction was formed with aninternal slot for gripping the clips. Upon the 'passage of time it wasnoted that rust developed at the juncture of the welded clip to itsattached structure thereby staining the outer face of the bumper.

It is an improved object of this invention to provide an improved bumperconstruction which avoids one or more of the disadvantages of thepriorart arrangements.

It is another important object of this invention to provide an improvedbumper construction wherein clip means are formed integrally with onemember which in turn is joined to another member in a mariner topreclude the formation of rust stains on outer faces of the members.

In accordance with the invention, the bumper construction of the presentinvention comprises a top member having a downwardly depending flange,and a bottom member secured to the outer face of said depending flange.The bottom member includes an offset flange to mount a resilient facingstrip of elastomeric material which extends substantially the fulllength of both top and bottom members. The facing strip includes a slitalong its length which enables the strip to grip the offset flange. 7

Further benefits and advantages in accordance with the invention willbecome more apparent from the following specification when taken inconnection with the drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of an automotive vehicle having thebumper structure of the present invention secured thereto;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational schematic perspective view of the variouselements of the bumper separated one from another; and

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view showing the various elements intheir assembled relationship.

In FIG. -1 there is shown a bumper structure embodying the presentinvention secured to an end of an automotive vehicle 11 by means of apair of bracket members 12,13. The bumper extends across the end of thevehicle and includes integral opposite wraparound end portions whichextend along the sides-of the vehicle.

With reference now to FIGS. 2 and 3 the bumper structure is illustratedas including a top member 15 in the form of a stamping of L-shaped crosssection having a horizontal flange l6 and a vertical depending flange17. The top member may be of suitable metal with an inner surface 18 andouter polished surface 19 such as chrome plate. A lower member 21 havinga central generally vertical web 23 is secured to upper member 15 as byweld connections as at 25. The lower member includes an offset flangeportion 27 of Z-shape which is integral with the upper margin of thecentral web 23 and extends outwardly from the weld connection 25. Theflange is spaced from the external surface 19 of flange 18 and externalsurface 28 of web 23. The lower member 21 includes in addition a lowerinwardly directed flange 29 which diverges in a curved path from thehorizontal flange 16 of upper member 15. The offset flange 27 inaddition to providing a strengthening function to the lower stamping, ispositioned to support a resilient facing strip 31 substantially alongthe full length of the bumper. The facing strip may be formed of anelastomeric material which is generally wedge-shaped in cross sectionand which has good shock absorbing qualities. The interior of the stripdefines a grooved or slot 33 which complements in size thelongitudinally extending Z-shaped flange 27. The base of the strip isdefined by an upper inner surface 34 and a lower inner surface 35slightly offset an amount corresponding to the thickness of web 23.

' and longitudinally of the flange when so assembled the upper basesurface 34 of the strip coactsfin' tight fitting engagement withexternal surface 19 of upper member 15, while the lower base surface 35thereof coacts with external surface 28 of lower member.

As previously referred to, bracket means 12, 13 similar one to another,are provided to attach thebumper to the chassis of the motor vehicle .11not shown. Mounting bracket 13 includes a web 37 and an encirclingintumed flange 38 which conforms in curvature to the internal surfaces18 of top member 15 and surface39 of lower member 21 as seen in FIG. 3.The flange 38 of the bracket includes an upper hole 40 aligned with hole41 in upper member 15, the latter hole being aligned with hole 41 inupper member 15, the latter hole being positioned in a recessed portionas 42. Suitable bolt means 45 are passed through the holes so aligned tosecure the upper member to the bracket. The head of the bolt means arereceived within the recess and thereby enables the surface 34 of thestrip to coact the margins of the recess at the outer surface 19. Inorder to permit passage of the bolt means through the aligned holes 40,41 a portion of the flange means 27 is notched as at 47. Y

The flange 38 of mounting bracket 13 includes in addition a lower holewhich is aligned with hole 49 in lower bumper member 21 as seen in FIG.3. Similar bolt means 45 are likewise employed.

From the foregoing it can be observed that since the lower member 21overlaps the outer face 19 of upper member 15, the possibility of rustformation at the weld sections 25 will occur along the curved face 39 oflower member 21 and not along its outer chrome surface 28.

While there has been described what at present is considered to be thepreferred embodiment of this invention, it will be obvious to thoseskilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be madetherein without departing from the invention, and it is therefore aimedin the appended claims to cover all such damages and modifications asfall within the true spirit of this invention.

lclaim:

l. A channel-shaped bumper for an automobile vehicle comprising incombination:

a. an upper member having a horizontal upper flange and a downwardlydirected connection flange extending therefrom,

b. a lower member having a horizontal lower flange and a Z- memberextending upwardly therefrom having a connection flange of the uppermember and an upper offset vertical flange, said downwardly directedflange being overlappingly secured to the connection flange of theZ-member to provide a channel-shaped bumper structure with an offsetvertical flange member extending away from the channel at theconnection,

0. a weld connecting the overlapping connection flange of the uppermember to the inner surface of the connection flange of the Z-member ata point below the upper offset vertical flange, whereby rust streaksemanating from the weld connection drain down the inner surface of thelower element, and

d. a resilient cover strip of elastomer material fitted over the upperoffset vertical flange of the Z-member.

2. Bumper structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein said resilientcover strip is provided with a horizontal surface which is tightlyfitted against the outer horizontal surfaces of the upper and lowermembers.

3. Bumper structures as set forth in claim 2, which further includes abumper support bracket engaging the inner surfaces of the upper andlower members.

portion to provide frontal access to said bolt means.

6. Bumper structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein said downwardlydirected flange on the upper member is generally vertical, having itsouter surface connected to the inside surface of the Z-member to form adoubler therewith.

1. A channel-shaped bumper for an automobile vehicle comprising in combination: a. an upper member having a horizontal upper flange and a downwardly directed connection flange extending therefrom, b. a lower member having a horizontal lower flange and a Zmember extending upwardly therefrom having a connection flange of the upper member and an upper offset vertical flange, said downwardly directed flange being overlappingly secured to the connection flange of the Z-member to provide a channel-shaped bumper structure with an offset vertical flange member extending away from the channel at the connection, c. a weld connecting the overlapping connection flange of the upper member to the inner surface of the connection flange of the Z-member at a point below the upper offset vertical flange, whereby rust streaks emanating from the weld connection drain down the inner surface of the lower element, and d. a resilient cover strip of elastomer material fitted over the upper offset vertical flange of the Z-member.
 2. Bumper structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein said resilient cover strip is provided with a horizontal surface which is tightly fitted against the outer horizontal surfaces of the upper and lower members.
 3. Bumper structures as set forth in claim 2, which further includes a bumper support bracket engaging the inner surfaces of the upper and lower members.
 4. Bumper structure as set forth in claim 3, wherein said bracket is attached to said upper and lower members by bolt means extending through the downwardly directed flange and the upper member.
 5. Bumper structure as set forth in claim 4, wherein said bolt means are disposed in line with the upper offset vertical flange of the Z-member, said flange being provided with a cutout portion to provide frontal access to said bolt means.
 6. Bumper structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein said downwardly directed flange on the upper member is generally vertical, having its outer surface connected to the inside surface of the Z-member to form a doubler therewith. 